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Sturgeon in court plea statement Sturgeon admits court plea error
(about 14 hours later)
Scotland's Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is to explain to MSPs why she asked a court to spare a convicted fraudster from a prison sentence. Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has apologised for an "error of judgement" in asking for alternatives to custody for a convicted fraudster.
Opposition leaders have insisted she still has questions to answer over the case of her constituent Abdul Rauf. In a statement to MSPs, Ms Sturgeon said she had acted in good faith but the wording of her letter was "wrong".
He has admitted defrauding £80,000 from the Department of Work and Pensions. The letter on behalf of constituent Abdul Rauf, who defrauded £80,000 from the Department of Work and Pensions, was condemned by opposition parties.
Ms Sturgeon hopes a dispassionate account of the facts in her statement to the Scottish Parliament will bring the controversy to a close. They argued it amounted to a serious error of judgement.
Her critics have said she made an error of judgement when she wrote to Glasgow Sheriff Court suggesting that 60-year-old Rauf might be spared prison on grounds of ill health. Ms Sturgeon wrote to Glasgow Sheriff Court suggesting that 60-year-old Rauf might be spared prison on grounds of ill health.
Previous conviction
In the letter, Ms Sturgeon stated: "Mr Rauf has accepted his wrong doing and has experienced the consequences of it through the effect on his health, the distress caused to his family and the impact on his standing in his community.In the letter, Ms Sturgeon stated: "Mr Rauf has accepted his wrong doing and has experienced the consequences of it through the effect on his health, the distress caused to his family and the impact on his standing in his community.
Custodial alternatives
"He and his wife are anxious that a custodial sentence may be imposed by the court and of the effect this will have on Mr Rauf's health and the impact on family life."He and his wife are anxious that a custodial sentence may be imposed by the court and of the effect this will have on Mr Rauf's health and the impact on family life.
"I would appeal to the court to take the points raised here into account and consider alternatives to a custodial sentence.""I would appeal to the court to take the points raised here into account and consider alternatives to a custodial sentence."
She also said Rauf has paid back £27,000 to the DWP and would settle the remainder by selling property. She also said Rauf had paid back £27,000 to the DWP and would settle the remainder by selling property.
Rauf, who has a previous conviction for fraud, was released on bail after being told by Sheriff Alan MacKenzie that a prison term was "at the forefront" of his mind when the case calls again for sentencing.Rauf, who has a previous conviction for fraud, was released on bail after being told by Sheriff Alan MacKenzie that a prison term was "at the forefront" of his mind when the case calls again for sentencing.
He was given a four-year prison sentence in 1996 for taking almost £60,000 in pension and benefit payments when he was a sub-post master at Tollcross in Edinburgh.He was given a four-year prison sentence in 1996 for taking almost £60,000 in pension and benefit payments when he was a sub-post master at Tollcross in Edinburgh.
Ms Sturgeon has been strongly backed by First Minister Alex Salmond, who has said she was carrying out her duties as an MSP.